It'll look really good on your resume

"It'll look very good on your resume.They're the best people in India in robotics and have organized workshops all over the country,including IITs.They also provide you a certificate towards the end of the workshop".
The first Yearite is flattered."A workshop in robotics from the best people!wow!Money will come and go,I better not miss this opportunity",he thinks.
He signs the paper.
He's fucked.

Let's better get to the point straight.All through the first year,your seniors will come to your room in groups of 3-5.They'll tell you about the workshops/event.They'll also tell you it's benefits and their own experience with it when they were in 1st year.Then they'll give you a paper and a pen.And then you'll be made to sign it.

Beware.

I wasted around 1600Rs on such a workshop which I did not care to visit after the first day.Many of my friends wasted much more money on workshops such as cloud computing,ethical hacking,IC cars.

Explain it to me like I am a 6 year old.What can a three day workshop teach your about robotics?Oh yeah!assembly.They very generously give your group(in our case it comprised 8 fools,me included) the various components and teach you how to assemble it.I'll tell you what.Open your laptop and go to YouTube.You can learn anything,from robotics to donkey-porn and whatnot.

You can spend this money on upgrading your computer's hardware,eating good food or even saving it.Believe me,if you don't do this,you'll be writing such a post to your juniors an year later.

Never sign for any such workshops.Never pay more than 50RS for any cultural event,be it Ganesh Chaturthi or Ugadi special lunch.

This is the perfect answer to all those seniors who come into your room disturbing your peace,taking your money and leave you repenting.

The journey begins

Finally,you're a college student.That too in one of the best colleges in India(that's what they say).The journey ahead is full of happy and sad moments,joys and cries,friendship and enmity,love and hatred,excellence and failure,zeal and boredom.Some say,this is what college life is all about.And yes,this is true.
Your classes will begin from around 1st or 2nd of August.At BITS,classes take place from 8 to 5,with most of the tutorials in the morning(this ensures that you miss most of them).Initially,everyone will be attending all the classes,taking down notes sincerely,sleeping at the right time and doing all other things that is expected of a robot.But as weeks pass,the true face of college life becomes apparent.You start going to bed at 2 after playing CS or watching a movie.No matter waking up early in the morning becomes a mammoth task,so you miss most of the morning tutorials.You do not have any motivation left to attend any of the lectures or tutorials.Bathing becomes a rare activity and washing clothes even rarer.Welcome to college.

A few tips for sailing through the 1st sem(specially devised for the lazy bones).
1.There are two ways to score at BITS.First is the robo way,that is attending each and every class and lectures,taking down all the notes etc.The other is the maverick way.I chose the latter.I did not attend even a single lecture or tutorial and still touched a CG of 8.89.But this method is inherently risky because it involves dragging and welding your ass to the library for around 8 hrs a day.It also involves:
a.No DC for the first sem.
b.Girls?What are they?Have they discovered a new species?
c.No "outing".
Which way you choose is entirely up to you.But I bet my ass I would rather be punched in the testicles than attending a class at 8 in the morning.

2.Make sure you take part in all the fests.There will be many in your first sem.
a.Zephyr:The inter-hostel fest.I kept sleeping.
b.Waves:One of the few things of our college that actually impresses me.This  fest is really top-of-the-class.

A word on clubs
BITS has a plethora of clubs and departments.Some of them are:
1.DOSM(Dept. of marketing and sponsorship)
2.DEPP(Dept. of publicity and public relations)
3.AeroD(club for aviation geeks)
4.Mime(one of the best club in our campus,gives a world class performance everytime).
5.Dance club.
6.Fight club(really?)

Make note that you'll go through a "tough" selection process to get into one of these clubs.They'll take an interview then a GD  and some other stuff.Most of the interviewers will try to show you how cool they are(by cursing freely in front of girls and the girls acknowledging them),how tough they are(by cursing you).Please remember that such people comprise a group called assholes in America and chutiyas in rest of the world.Thus,during interviews or GDs do not be afraid at all.It does not matter if they do not select you.Open yours in the next semester and be proud of yourself.

An important note:Though classes are a complete waste of time,but if you have probability and statistics in your first sem,not attending classes can be like digging your own grave.The reason is that almost all of the syllabi comprises those topics that we have not done in our JEE preparation.So,attending 3-4 classes a week is justified,I think.

I am in my cell.What's next?

 Congratulations.After the registration is done,you're finally a BITS student.After you reach your room along with your parents,you gotta buy some things.
1.Go to Borkars and buy some toiletries,if you haven't carried them from home.
2.A bucket,a mug,a dustbin,broom of good quality,mattress(if you've not followed my advice),a bottle,a wiper etc.All these things would be available in your hostel's common room.
3.Go around for a walk and contact your seniors for books.Mark my words,if BITS is called a cool place(which I don't agree),its because the seniors are so cool.They are the soul of this campus.BITS on its own is still a old,jammed machinery.
4.Buy a SIM card from Monginis(refer to the campus map for directions).
5.Open an SBI account(This can be done at a later time also.I did this after about a month).

At the time of registration,you will be given a schedule of two important things:
1.Registration at Computer Center.
2.Orientation programme.

Registration at Computer Center will comprise:
1.Submission of your 10th and 12th grade mark-sheet,pass certificate etc.
2.They will shoot(with a camera) your face for ID card.

I seriously do not recommend visiting the Orientation programme(although the last few minutes are important as they show the names of those students who have been slided-up or transferred to some other campus),as you can gift yourself and your parents some rest during those hours.Contacting your seniors is a much better idea to get information about the college.In fact,I would recommend that your parents also should contact a senior,instead of attending the OP.

After this very less things remain to do.And this is the time when emotions start playing in your head.Your parents would  leave soon,and no matter how much you hate'em(in today's world it happens!),at one point you'll feel wetness in your eyes.How much you cursed them over all these years when you dreamt of nothing but freedom,and now when freedom is at door-step,suddenly that thirst for it has vanished.I remember when my father left,I suddenly felt light-headed.I wanted to go back to my room and sleep.Then suddenly it started to rain(perhaps one of those rare occasions when even nature takes part in human suffering).But what is bound to happen,will happen.

After your parents have left,don't go into the room and open your laptop and start chatting with your old friends.Hangout a bit,walk around the campus,see your fellow girls,meet with your hostel-mates,meet your seniors and mentor.
1.Do not expect the very next day some senior will knock your door to rag you.Ragging in BITS comprises an introduction(though expect some more at your department orientation programme.Good thing I kept sleeping that day).
2.BITS has a very unhealthy culture of speaking English,no matter if you're comfortable in it or not.If you see a bunch of boys or girls babbling in Engish(in which you're not very comfortable),do not think them high-class to whom you can't talk.Go approach them in the Hindi or the language you're comfortable in.At BITS everyone tries to speak the foreign language.no matter how incorrectly they speak.Remember you're here to be a man of science,not an Anglophile.

Lodging and accomodation

From my own experience,I can say that this is one thing most of us are unclear about before arriving in the campus.Lack of correct information adds to the confusion.I thing this post will make things glib and clear.

As soon as you arrive at the main gate,you'll be given a campus map and directions to go to a hostel.(On your way,you'll see a number of couples walking down the road holding each other's hands and stuff,giving you an illusion that you've arrived in heaven and you'll be doing the same after a few days). After you reach that hostel,the guard will register your name and other things and tell you your room number(note that this is not your permanent room address,which you'll get at the time of registration).All you gotta do after this is go to that room and relax(not really,as your room will have nothing but a wooden cot,and if you're not carrying a mattress,be sure to spend your first night at BITS sleeping on a rock.Thus,I highly recommend carrying one).You don't have to pay anything for accommodation.As far as meals are concerned,you'll be paying in the mess for a few initial days for food.The very next day,you'll have to go to the Student activity Center for registration.So make sure you have your score card and offer letter in hand.At the SAC,you will be given a slip with your hostel and room number written on it.From there,you'll depart directly to the assigned hostel.

There are certain rules that need to be obeyed.With a girl,only her mother(or other feminine figure) can stay in her room.There are no such rules for boys.You see,we enjoy more freedom than girls(for four years) at BITS.I don't know for how long your parents can stay,but one of my friend's parents left on 6th August.(4 days after the class commenced).So that should not be a problem.

Here's a list of Hotels located near the campus.

Vasco residency(9 km from campus)

Room type	Occupancy	Rate	Room type	Rate
AC room	Double	1280	Non AC room	950

Inclusions:tax included

contact:

address:Vasco residency,Vasco city,Goa.

Phone no:08322811002,2513119

reservations@goa-tourism.com

Hotle Allia Diwa Goa(11 km from campus)

Special rates exclusive for BITS Pilani Goa Campus.

Room type	Occupancy	Rate	Occupancy	Rate
Terrace room (A/C)	2+1 occupancy	5700+tax	Double	5000+tax

All rates inclusive of breakast.

Contact:Ms.Liane Dias-Assistant sales manager.

Mobile:09049990500

phone:0832-2746800/09

adgrerervations@aliahotels.com

Hotel Bogmalo beach resort

(7 km from campus)

Room type	Occupancy	Rate
Sea facing deluxe room AC	single/double	5500
Sea facing superior room AC	single/double	4500

Inc:AC airport transfers,Buffet breakfast,All applicable taxes.

Contact details:Mr.Virender singh-Sales and Marketing executive

mobile:07709790669

phone:08322538222-2538232

virender@bogmallobeachresort.com

Maharaja Hotels Vasco(9 km from campus)

Room type	Occupancy	Rate	Occupancy	Rate
AC room	Double	2884 with tax	Single	2448 with tax
Non AC room	Double	1959 with tax	Single	1469 with Tax

Includes Complimentary breakfast.

Contact:Ms.Arti Naik

mobile:09623448088

phone no:0832-2514075/76/77

sales@maharajahotelsgao.com

Hotle Vasco(9 km from campus)

Room type	Occupancy	Rate	Occupancy	Rate
AC room	Double	1200	-	-
AC room	2+1 occupancy	1500	-	-
Non AC room	2+1 occupancy	1000
Non AC room	Double	800	Single	500

Tax included

contact

Mr.Vane Singh

moblie:07798536110

phone:08322513517

address:Vasco city,Goa

Hotel Annapurna(9 km from campus)

Room type	Occupancy	Rate	Occupancy	Rate
AC room	Double	1240	-	-
Non AC room	Double	750	Single	500

Contact

Address:Vasco city,Goa.

Phone:08322513375

Please note that these were the rates for the previous year.This year,they may go up.But still you can get an approximate idea of them.

Arrival

 
BITS is a quite expensive place to study,and my post is exclusively aimed at optimizing your cost.Do no more calculations,you won't be able to cut it down anymore.

One of the worst aspects of going to college is that you have to leave a world so cozy and comfortable and caring behind and get into an alien land.This is a really bad feeling.But you're also excited to get into that alien world where you'll be getting what you always wanted(independence).So,a mix of emotions always makes you vulnerable to mistakes,and I'll make sure you make none.

So here's a list of the things you'll need to bring from home.
1.First of all,make sure you've got each and every document with multiple copies of each.Read the instructions very carefully.They'll provide you a soft copy of those once you're offered a seat.Believe me,having all the documents in hand saves you from lots of trouble.(Don't forget that anti-ragging shit).

2.Electronics:If you have a laptop computer,fine and good.If not,get a good multimedia cell phone because a majority of academic shit around here flies online(from posting marks to notices,all will be put up online).Laptop wastes time,and thus not recommended for the first semester at least.If you're bringing one,get a long,good quality LAN cable.Here they sell it expensive.

3.Buy a good mattress or have one sewn.They sell them really expensive here and of low quality.Carry some bed-sheets and pillow covers.I absolutely do not recommend buying it from here.(If you're flying,forget this option though I recommend you to travel by train to enjoy some of the amazing routes of the Konkan Railways.The journey is more beautiful than the destination!).

4.Good quality umbrella.At the shopping center,they will sell you dirt for half a million.It rains incessantly in Goa during the monsoons and having a good quality umbrella will save your money for four years.

5.Books:Get your chemistry(particularly O-Chem and thermodynamics),mechanics and calculus notes.Get a box of pens and a half a dozen notebooks(you'll sail through the semester with 6 notebooks).

6.An alarm clock and good quality locks(at least 2).At BITS,mobile phones do not ring loud enough to wake you up.Also,its difficult to find good quality locks at our shopping center.

7.Toiletries can be bought here,tough you can bring them from home,whatever you like.

8.A good quality curtain(1.2m x 1.2m). Make sure that it is not a transparent one. 

9.As soon as you arrive,contact your seniors for books.They'll sell like hot cakes.You'll have to spend around 2000 for them(I found an altruistic senior who sold me his set for 800).

10. If you're planning to apply for a loan,make sure you have all the documents for it.

11.Refrain from bringing irons,induction cookers for the first semester at least(although I am writing this while enjoying a cup of tea made on my induction cooker). The reason is just like homosexuality is punishable under law in our country but the law is seldom enforced,same is the case with such items. 


How to reach BITS?

 For those traveling by air,you'll have no problem.Just book a cab from the airport and a mere 5 min drive is all it takes to reach the campus.You'll have to spend around Rs.250-300 for this.

 For those traveling by train,if you arrive at Madgaon railway station,you'll have to book a cab to BITS for around Rs..700.And guess what,they do not bargain,as it is a pre-paid taxi.So,to save money,I would suggest car-pooling with other people with the same destination(there'll be ample of them).If you arrive at the Vasco Da Gama railway station,you'll have to shell out 250rs. for a 15 min ride to the campus.

Kicked into BITS

So finally,you're here.After 2 or 3 years of a tiring battle,you've lost.This is how I put the truth-you've lost in one of the most important battles of your life.You've failed to get a seat into one of the IITs.Admit it fellas,BITSAT was not something you prepared for 2 or 3 years,( it does not deserve it anyway).So here you are,at BITS Pilani K.K Birla Goa Campus.Pack your luggage and drain your bladders,its gonna be a long journey....

This blog was made to help the juniors settle down in a place completely alien to them.But I will also help you with surviving the first year of your college life,which can be quite tough at this place.

 
Let us see have a look at the place where you'll be wasting a significant chunk of your life.

The main building and on the right is library and to the top is a sky which seems to have been edited.

This way leads to the graveyard.Kidding.Its one of the hostels.

Badminton courts in the activity center.

Resting rooms for students(a.k.a the library) when its too hot in their rooms.What's greater?they give a free(not really) wi-fi service too.

Shopping centre.

A really huge auditorium.

The photographer somehow grew wings,and took this amazing shot in which you can see a very wide river behind the main building.

The B-Dome.

Again,the B-dome.To the right is C-wing and to the left is A-wing.

The green turf,on which you'll be playing football quite often.

  

BITS has a very small campus of a mere 180 acres(that actually quite small,you can take a walk and cover the entire campus).Here is the campus map:

A few things I would remind you before coming to BITS:

1. Forget everything about how good your life is going to be just because you'll be staying in Goa.Save the beaches,there's not much to explore.And our campus is located in a village,and to get to the nearest market,you've to travel down a highway for about a mile to catch a bus,that takes you there.

2.Just because you're in BITS means your life's set is the dumbest idea I've ever stumbled upon.

3.Do not console yourself that you're at a place at par with the IITs.Come here for a fresh start,accepting that YOU COULD NOT CLEAR THE JEE.Sometimes it pays-off to accept your defeat.

With this,I welcome you to our college,our world. 






for photo credits go to:https://www.flickr.com/photos/atif_wahab/8545983563/in/album-72157632248831638/